Banks

About 41,000 Northern Rock mortgage customers with unsecured loans of between £25,000 and £30,000 have been dealt a massive blow this morning, as the Court of Appeal has ruled they're not due redress for historic paperwork blunders.

The financial crisis in Greece and ensuing euro worries mean the pound is currently buying €1.41 – a seven year record high. This would've been unthinkable this time last year when you'd have done well to get €1.25 and two years ago when €1.17 would've been worth whooping about.

What would you tweak about the UK? Your first instinct may be 'a flat rate of income tax', 'independence for Cornwall', or 'free university education for all'. Yet I'm not talking about big contentious change – this is about quick fixes for life glitches.

Users of certain Apple devices will soon be able to pay for goods at some UK retailers including Boots and Starbucks and for travel on Transport for London simply by touching their handset or watch to a contactless reader.

The UK banking regulator has fined Lloyds Banking Group a record £117 million for its failings and 'unacceptable' conduct in handling claims over payment protection insurance (PPI).

Northern Rock mortgage customers with unsecured loans of between £25,000 and £30,000 may get redress for historical paperwork blunders if the decision of an appeal heard last month goes their way.

Current account customers of six major banks will be able to download a year's worth of data into a single format from today, which it's hoped will then be used to make comparing bank accounts easier.

Spain's Banco de Sabadell has reached an agreement to take over British bank TSB it's been announced today, but its "business as usual" for TSB customers.